Carrier aggregation using diplexers

ABSTRACT

A multiplexing system can include a first diplexer and a second diplexer. The first diplexer can have a first transmit terminal, a first receive terminal, and a first common terminal. The first diplexer can be configured to filter a first transmit signal to a first cellular frequency band and output the filtered first transmit signal. The first diplexer can be further configured to filter a first receive signal to a second cellular frequency band and output the filtered first receive signal. The second diplexer can have a second transmit terminal, a second receive terminal, and a second common terminal. The second diplexer can be configured to filter a second transmit signal to the second cellular frequency band and output the filtered second transmit signal. The second diplexer can be further configured to filter a second receive signal to the first cellular frequency band and output the filtered second receive signal.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 15/177,125 filed on Jun. 8, 2016, entitled CARRIER AGGREGATIONUSING DIPLEXERS, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional ApplicationNo. 62/173,237 filed Jun. 9, 2015, entitled CARRIER AGGREGATION USINGDIPLEXERS, the disclosures of which are hereby expressly incorporated byreference herein in their entireties.

BACKGROUND Field

The present disclosure generally relates to multiplexing circuits forcarrier aggregation communication.

Description of the Related Art

Many wireless devices such as cellular handsets are configured tosupport multiple cellular frequency bands. In some implementations, anetwork of duplex filters, each corresponding to a cellular frequencyband, is used to allow simultaneous transmission and reception on acommon antenna. However, duplexer filter loss may be significant as theseparation between the uplink sub-band and downlink sub-band is small,e.g., approximately 45 to 400 megahertz (MHz). Further, the cost of suchduplexers in terms of component prices or power usage may be significantdue to the small frequency spacing and sharp filtering requirements.

SUMMARY

In accordance with some implementations, the present disclosure relatesto a multiplexing system. The multiplexing system includes a firstdiplexer having a first transmit terminal, a first receive terminal, anda first common terminal. The first diplexer is configured to filter afirst transmit signal received at the first transmit terminal to a firstcellular frequency band and output the filtered first transmit signal atthe first common terminal. The first diplexer is further configured tofilter a first receive signal received at the first common terminal to asecond cellular frequency band and output the filtered first receivesignal at the first receive terminal. The multiplexing system includes asecond diplexer having a second transmit terminal, a second receiveterminal, and a second common terminal. The second diplexer isconfigured to filter a second transmit signal received at the secondtransmit terminal to the second cellular frequency band and output thefiltered second transmit signal at the second common terminal. Thesecond diplexer is further configured to filter a second receive signalreceived at the second common terminal to the first cellular frequencyband and output the filtered second receive signal at the second receiveterminal.

In some embodiments, the multiplexing system can further include a firstpower amplifier having a first output coupled to the first transmitterminal. The first power amplifier can be configured to amplify anunamplified first transmit signal to generate the first transmit signal.In some embodiments, the first power amplifier can be a narrowband poweramplifier configured to amplify the first cellular frequency band of theunamplified first transmit signal. In some embodiments, the multiplexingsystem can further include a second power amplifier having a secondoutput coupled to the second transmit terminal. The second poweramplifier can be configured to amplify an unamplified second transmitsignal to generate the second transmit signal. In some embodiments, thesecond power amplifier can be a narrowband power amplifier configured toamplify the second cellular frequency band of the unamplified secondtransmit signal.

In some embodiments, the multiplexing system can further include a firstantenna coupled to the first common terminal and a second antennacoupled to the second common terminal. In some embodiments, themultiplexing system can further include a diversity receiver system andone or more diversity antennas coupled to the diversity receiver system.In some embodiments, the diversity receiver system can include a firstfilter configured to filter a first diversity signal received at the oneor more diversity antennas to the first cellular frequency band. In someembodiments, the diversity receiver system can include a second filterconfigured to filter a second diversity signal received at the one ormore diversity antennas to the second cellular frequency band.

In some embodiments, multiplexing system can further include a firstantenna band select switch (BSS) having a first antenna BSS pole, afirst antenna BSS throw, and a second antenna BSS throw, the firstantenna BSS throw coupled to the first common terminal. In someembodiments, the multiplexing system can further include a thirddiplexer having a third transmit terminal, a third receive terminal, anda third common terminal coupled to the second antenna BSS throw. Thethird diplexer can be configured to filter a third transmit signalreceived at the third transmit terminal to a third cellular frequencyband and output the filtered third transmit signal at the third commonterminal, The third diplexer further can be configured to filter a thirdreceive signal received at the third common terminal to a fourthcellular frequency band and output the filtered third receive signal atthe third receive terminal. In some embodiments, the multiplexing systemcan further include a first power amplifier band select switch having afirst power amplifier band select switch pole, a first power amplifierband select switch throw, and a second power amplifier band selectswitch throw. The first power amplifier band select switch throw can becoupled to the first transmit terminal and the second power amplifierband select switch throw coupled to the third transmit terminal.

In some embodiments, the first diplexer can be a passive device. In someembodiments, the first diplexer can include a first bandpass filter anda second bandpass filter.

In some embodiments, the first cellular frequency band and the secondcellular frequency band can include Universal Mobile TelecommunicationsSystem (UMTS) Bands 2 and 5. In some embodiments, the first cellularfrequency band and the second cellular frequency band can includeUniversal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) Bands 4 and 12.

In some implementations, the present disclosure relates toradio-frequency (RF) module including a packaging substrate configuredto receive a plurality of components and a multiplexing systemimplemented on the packaging substrate. The multiplexing system includesa first diplexer having a first transmit terminal, a first receiveterminal, and a first common terminal. The first diplexer is configuredto filter a first transmit signal received at the first transmitterminal to a first cellular frequency band and output the filteredfirst transmit signal at the first common terminal. The first diplexeris further configured to filter a first receive signal received at thefirst common terminal to a second cellular frequency band and output thefiltered first receive signal at the first receive terminal. Themultiplexing system further includes a second diplexer having a secondtransmit terminal, a second receive terminal, and a second commonterminal. The second diplexer is configured to filter a second transmitsignal received at the second transmit terminal to the second cellularfrequency band and output the filtered second transmit signal at thesecond common terminal. The second diplexer is further configured tofilter a second receive signal received at the second common terminal tothe first cellular frequency band and output the filtered second receivesignal at the second receive terminal.

In some embodiments, the RF module can be a front-end module (FEM).

In some embodiments, the multiplexing system can further include a firstantenna band select switch having a first antenna band select switchpole, a first antenna band select switch throw, and a second antennaband select switch throw. The first antenna band select switch throw canbe coupled to the first common terminal.

In some implementations, the present disclosure relates to a wirelessdevice. The wireless device includes a transceiver configured togenerate a radio-frequency (RF) signal. The wireless device includes afront-end module (FEM) in communication with the transceiver. The FEMincludes a packaging substrate configured to receive a plurality ofcomponents and a multiplexing system implemented on the packagingsubstrate. The multiplexing system includes a first diplexer having afirst transmit terminal, a first receive terminal, and a first commonterminal. The first diplexer is configured to filter a first transmitsignal received at the first transmit terminal to a first cellularfrequency band and output the filtered first transmit signal at thefirst common terminal. The first diplexer is further configured tofilter a first receive signal received at the first common terminal to asecond cellular frequency band and output the filtered first receivesignal at the first receive terminal. The multiplexing system furtherincludes a second diplexer having a second transmit terminal, a secondreceive terminal, and a second common terminal. The second diplexer isconfigured to filter a second transmit signal received at the secondtransmit terminal to the second cellular frequency band and output thefiltered second transmit signal at the second common terminal. Thesecond diplexer is further configured to filter a second receive signalreceived at the second common terminal to the first cellular frequencyband and output the filtered second receive signal at the second receiveterminal. The wireless device further includes an antenna incommunication with the FEM. The antenna is configured to transmit anamplified version of the RF signal received from the multiplexingsystem.

For purposes of summarizing the disclosure, certain aspects, advantagesand novel features of the inventions have been described herein. It isto be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may beachieved in accordance with any particular embodiment of the invention.Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner thatachieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taughtherein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taughtor suggested herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 schematically shows an example wireless communicationconfiguration that includes a multiplexing system with two diplexers.

FIG. 2 shows that, in some embodiments, a diplexer may include twobandpass filters.

FIG. 3 shows that, in some embodiments, the multiplexing system of FIG.1 may be implemented in a wireless communication configuration includinga diversity receiver system.

FIG. 4 shows that, in some embodiments, a wireless communicationconfiguration may include a multiplexing system with multiple diplexersets.

FIG. 5 shows that, in some embodiments, a wireless communicationconfiguration may include power amplifier band select switches.

FIG. 6 shows that, in some embodiments, a wireless communicationconfiguration may include a wideband diversity antenna.

FIG. 7 depicts a module having one or more features as described herein.

FIG. 8 depicts a wireless device having one or more features describedherein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

The headings provided herein, if any, are for convenience only and donot necessarily affect the scope or meaning of the claimed invention.

Many wireless devices such as cellular handsets are configured tosupport multiple cellular frequency bands. In some implementations, anetwork of duplex filters, each corresponding to a cellular frequencyband, is used to allow simultaneous transmission and reception on acommon antenna. In some implementations, a switch is used to select asingle duplexer to perform single-carrier communication, transmissionand reception at a single cellular frequency band. In someimplementations, one or more switches are used to select multipleduplexers to perform carrier aggregation communication, transmission andreception at multiple cellular frequency bands simultaneously.

Duplexer filter loss may be significant as the separation between theuplink sub-band and downlink sub-band is small, e.g., approximately 45to 400 megahertz (MHz). Further, the cost of such duplexers in terms ofcomponent prices or power usage may be significant due to the smallfrequency spacing and sharp filtering requirements.

Disclosed herein are various examples of circuits, devices and methodsthat can be configured to, among other things, address the foregoingchallenges associated with carrier aggregation communication systems. Insome implementations as described herein, duplexers are replaced withdiplexer filters with a wider frequency spacing, e.g., approximately1000 MHz or greater. Each diplexer is configured to allow simultaneoustransmission at one cellular frequency band and reception at anothercellular frequency band. The wider frequency spacing as compared to aduplexer may allow the diplexer filter design to be improved in terms ofcost, module space, insertion loss, and/or out-of-band attenuation.

Filter insertion loss in the transmission path may be further reduced(e.g., by using a smaller and lower cost power amplifier) sinceattenuation at the reception frequency can be reduced (e.g., fromapproximately 55 dB to 45 dB). This lower transmission filter insertionloss may result in less heat dissipation and a longer battery life.

FIG. 1 schematically shows an example wireless communicationconfiguration 100 that includes a multiplexing system 101 with twodiplexers 110, 120. The multiplexing system 101 routes signals between atransceiver system 130 and two antennas 115, 125.

The transceiver system 130 includes a transmitter system 132 thatconverts digital data signals into radio-frequency (RF) signals fortransmission via the antennas 115, 125. To that end, the transmittersystem 132 may include a baseband system, a modulator including a localoscillator, a digital-to-analog converter, a power amplifier, and othercomponents. The transceiver system 130 further includes a receiversystem 134 that converts received RF signals into digital data signals.To that end, the receiver system 134 may include a low-noise amplifier(LNA), a demodulator including a local oscillator, an analog-to-digitalconverter, a baseband system, and other components.

The multiplexing system 101 provides signals received via the antennas115, 125 to corresponding inputs of the receiver system 134. Similarly,the multiplexing system 101 provides signals received from correspondingoutputs of the transmitter system 132 to the antennas 115, 125.

The multiplexing system 101, as shown, includes a first diplexer 110 anda second diplexer 120. In some implementations, e.g., as describedbelow, the multiplexing system 101 may include more than two diplexersand/or switching mechanisms. Each diplexer 110, 120 may be a passivedevice. For example, each diplexer 110, 120 may include two bandpassfilters combined to perform the functions of the diplexer as describedbelow. The bandpass filters may be implemented as surface acoustic wave(SAW) filters, LC filters, or any other type of filter.

The first diplexer 110 has three terminals: a first transmit terminal111 coupled to a first output of the transmitter system 132, a firstreceive terminal 112 coupled to a first input the receiver system 134,and a first common terminal 113 coupled to the first antenna 115. Thefirst diplexer 110 is configured to filter a first transmit signalreceived at the first transmit terminal 111 to a first cellularfrequency band and output the filtered first transmit signal at thefirst common terminal 113. The first diplexer 110 is further configuredto filter a first receive signal received at the first common terminal113 to a second cellular frequency band and output the filtered firstreceive signal at the first receive terminal 112.

The second diplexer 120 also has three terminals: a second transmitterminal 121 coupled to a second output of the transmitter system 132, asecond receive terminal 122 coupled to a second input of the receiversystem 134, and a second common terminal 123 coupled to the secondantenna 125. The second diplexer 120 is configured to filter a secondtransmit signal received at the second transmit terminal 121 to thesecond cellular frequency band and output the filtered second transmitsignal at the second common terminal 123. The second diplexer 120 isfurther configured to filter a second receive signal received at thesecond common terminal 123 to the first cellular frequency band andoutput the filtered second receive signal at the second receive terminal122.

The first cellular frequency band and second cellular frequency band maybe widely spaced. For example, the first cellular frequency band may beUMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) Band 2, between 1850megahertz (MHZ) and 1990 MHz, and the second cellular frequency band maybe UMTS Band 5, between 829 MHz and 894 MHz. Each cellular frequencyband may include an uplink frequency sub-band and a downlink frequencysub-band. For example, the first cellular frequency band may include anuplink frequency sub-band between 1850 MHz and 1910 MHz and a downlinkfrequency sub-band between 1930 MHz and 1990 MHz. In someimplementations, the first cellular frequency band is UMTS Band 4 andthe second cellular frequency band is UMTS Band 12. In someimplementations, the first cellular frequency band is UMTS Band 4 andthe second cellular frequency band is UMTS Band 17, which is a subset ofUMTS Band 12. In some implementations, the first cellular frequency bandis UMTS Band 1 and the second cellular frequency band is UMTS Band 8.Other cellular frequency bands may be used, such as those describedbelow in Table 1 or other non-UMTS cellular frequency bands.

Thus, in contrast to a duplexer which allows bi-directionalcommunication for a single cellular frequency band, each diplexer 110,120 allows directional communication for each of two cellular frequencybands. The first diplexer 110 and second diplexer 120 are complementaryin that the first diplexer 110 transmits a signal at a first cellularfrequency band and the second diplexer 120 receives a signal at thefirst cellular frequency band. Similarly, the second diplexer 120transmits a signal at the second cellular frequency band and the firstdiplexer 110 receives a signal at the second cellular frequency band.The first diplexer 110 and second diplexer 120 may be used to performcarrier aggregation in which a wireless device transmits and receivessignals at two different cellular frequency bands at the same time.

Each antenna 115, 125 may be a wideband antenna that can, at least,transmit and receive the first cellular frequency band and the secondcellular frequency band. Each antenna 115, 125 may transmit and receivethe first cellular frequency band and the second cellular frequency bandwithout transmitting or receiving frequencies between the two bands. Forexample, each antenna 115, 125 may include two narrowband antennas and acombiner.

FIG. 2 shows that, in one embodiment, a diplexer 210 may include twobandpass filters 221, 222. The diplexer 210 includes three terminals, atransmit terminal 211 coupled to the input of a first bandpass filter221, a receive terminal 212 coupled to the output of a second bandpassfilter 222, and a common terminal 213 coupled to both the output of thefirst bandpass filter 221 and the input of the second bandpass filter222.

The first bandpass filter 221 may filter a signal at the input of thefirst bandpass filter 221 to a first cellular frequency band or to anuplink sub-band of a first cellular frequency band. Similarly, thesecond bandpass filter 222 may filter a signal at the input of thesecond bandpass filter 222 to a second cellular frequency band or to adownlink sub-band of a second cellular frequency band.

Although FIG. 2 illustrates a particular diplexer configurationincluding two bandpass filters, other diplexer configurations may beimplemented in the systems described herein.

FIG. 3 shows that, in some embodiments, the multiplexing system 101 ofFIG. 1 may be implemented in a wireless communication configuration 300including a diversity receiver system 330.

As described above, the multiplexing system 101 includes a firstdiplexer 110 and a second diplexer 120. The first diplexer 110 has afirst transmit terminal 111, a first receive terminal 112, and a firstcommon terminal 113. The first transmit terminal 111 is coupled, via afirst power amplifier 341, to a first cellular frequency band transmitoutput of the transceiver system 310. The first power amplifier 341 hasa first output coupled to the first transmit terminal 111 and isconfigured to amplify an unamplified first transmit signal to generate afirst transmit signal. The first power amplifier 341 may be a narrowbandpower amplifier configured to amplify the first cellular frequency bandof the unamplified first transmit signal. The first cellular frequencyband transmit output of the transceiver system 310 may output, as theunamplified first transmit signal, an RF signal to be transmitted at thefirst cellular frequency band.

The first receive terminal 112 is coupled to a second cellular frequencyband receive input of the transceiver system 310. The second cellularfrequency band receive input of the transceiver system 310 may receivean RF signal for processing at the second cellular frequency band.

The first common terminal 113 is coupled to a first antenna 351. Thefirst antenna 351 may be a wideband antenna that can transmit andreceive at both the first cellular frequency band and the secondcellular frequency band.

The first diplexer 110 is configured to filter a first transmit signalreceived at the first transmit terminal 111 (from the first poweramplifier 341) to a first cellular frequency band and output thefiltered first transmit signal at the first common terminal 113. Thefirst diplexer 110 is further configured to filter a first receivesignal received at the first common terminal 113 to a second cellularfrequency band and output the filtered first receive signal at the firstreceive terminal 112.

The second diplexer 120 has a second transmit terminal 121, a secondreceive terminal 122, and a second common terminal 123. The secondtransmit terminal 121 is coupled, via a second power amplifier 342, to asecond cellular frequency band transmit output of the transceiver system310. The second power amplifier 342 has a second output coupled to thesecond transmit terminal 121 and is configured to amplify an unamplifiedsecond transmit signal to generate a second transmit signal. The secondpower amplifier 341 may be a narrowband power amplifier configured toamplify the second cellular frequency band of the unamplified secondtransmit signal. The second cellular frequency band transmit output ofthe transceiver system 310 may output, as the unamplified secondtransmit signal, an RF signal to be transmitted at the second cellularfrequency band.

The second receive terminal 122 is coupled to a first cellular frequencyband receive input of the transceiver system 310. The first cellularfrequency band receive input of the transceiver system 310 may receivean RF signal for processing at the first cellular frequency band.

The second common terminal 123 is coupled to a second antenna 352. Thesecond antenna 352 may be, like the first antenna 351, a widebandantenna that can transmit and receive at both the first cellularfrequency band and the second cellular frequency band.

The second diplexer 120 is configured to filter a second transmit signalreceived at the second transmit terminal 121 (from the second poweramplifier 342) to the second cellular frequency band and output thefiltered second transmit signal at the second common terminal 123. Thesecond diplexer 120 is further configured to filter a second receivesignal received at the second common terminal 123 to the first cellularfrequency band and output the filtered second receive signal at thesecond receive terminal 122.

The wireless communication configuration 300 includes a diversityreceiver system 330 and one or more diversity antennas coupled to thediversity receiver system. As shown in FIG. 3, the wirelesscommunication configuration 300 includes a first diversity antenna 353and a second diversity antenna 354.

The diversity receiver system 330 includes a first filter 331 configuredto filter a first diversity signal received at the one or more diversityantennas to the first cellular frequency band. As shown in FIG. 3, thefirst filter 331 is configured to receive a first diversity signal fromthe first diversity antenna 353, filter the first diversity signal tothe first cellular frequency band, and provide the filtered firstdiversity signal to a first cellular frequency band diversity input ofthe transceiver system 310.

Similarly, the diversity receiver system 330 includes a second filter332 configured to filter a second diversity signal received at the oneor more diversity antennas to the second cellular frequency band. Asshown in FIG. 3, the second filter 332 is configured to receive a seconddiversity signal from the second diversity antenna 354, filter thesecond diversity signal to the second cellular frequency band, andprovide the filtered second diversity signal to a second cellularfrequency band diversity input of the transceiver system 310.

The transceiver system 310 may use the signals received at the firstcellular frequency band receive input and the first cellular frequencyband diversity input together to generate data bits based on a signal(or a portion of a carrier aggregation signal) wirelessly transmitted atthe first frequency. Similarly, the transceiver system 310 may use thesignals received at the second cellular frequency band receive input andthe second cellular frequency band diversity input together to generatedata bits based on a signal (or a portion of a carrier aggregationsignal) wirelessly transmitted at the second frequency.

FIG. 4 shows that, in one embodiment, a wireless communicationconfiguration 400 may include a multiplexing system 420 with multiplediplexer sets. The multiplexing system 420 includes a first diplexer 460having a first transmit terminal 462, a first receive terminal 461, anda first common terminal 463. The first diplexer 460 is configured tofilter a first transmit signal received at the first transmit terminal462 to a first cellular frequency band and output the filtered firsttransmit signal at the first common terminal 463. The first diplexer 460is further configured to filter a first receive signal received at thefirst common terminal 463 to a second cellular frequency band and outputthe filtered first receive signal at the first receive terminal 461.

The multiplexing system 420 includes a second diplexer 480 having asecond transmit terminal 482, a second receive terminal 481, and asecond common terminal 483. The second diplexer 480 is configured tofilter a second transmit signal received at the second transmit terminal482 to the second cellular frequency band and output the filtered secondtransmit signal at the second common terminal 483. The second diplexer480 is further configured to filter a second receive signal received atthe second common terminal 483 to the first cellular frequency band andoutput the filtered second receive signal at the second receive terminal481. The first cellular frequency band may be UMTS Band 2 and the secondcellular frequency band may be UMTS Band 5.

The first transmit terminal 462 is coupled to the output of a firstpower amplifier 441 and the second transmit terminal 482 is coupled tothe output of a second power amplifier 443. The first power amplifier441 may be a narrowband power amplifier that amplifies the firstcellular frequency band (e.g., Band 2) and the second power amplifier443 may be a narrowband power amplifier that amplifies the secondcellular frequency band (e.g., Band 5).

The first diplexer 460 may receive the first transmit signal from afirst cellular frequency band transmit output of a transceiver systemand provide the first receive signal to a second cellular frequency bandreceive input of the transceiver system. Conversely, the second diplexer480 may receive the second transmit signal from a second cellularfrequency band transmit output of the transceiver system and provide thesecond receive signal to a first cellular frequency band receive inputof the transceiver system.

Thus, the multiplexing system 420 includes a first diplexer 460 andsecond diplexer 480 that may be used to perform carrier aggregation ofthe first cellular frequency band and second cellular frequency band.The multiplexing system 420 further includes a third diplexer 470 and afourth diplexer 490 that may be used to perform carrier aggregation of athird cellular frequency band and a fourth cellular frequency band.

In particular, the third diplexer has a third transmit terminal 472, athird receive terminal 471, and a third common terminal 473. The thirddiplexer 470 is configured to filter a third transmit signal received atthe third transmit terminal 472 to a third cellular frequency band andoutput the filtered third transmit signal at the third common terminal473. The third diplexer 470 is further configured to filter a thirdreceive signal received at the third common terminal 473 to a fourthcellular frequency band and output the filtered third receive signal atthe third receive terminal 471.

The fourth diplexer 490 has a fourth transmit terminal 492, a fourthreceive terminal 491, and a fourth common terminal 493. The fourthdiplexer 490 is configured to filter a fourth transmit signal receivedat the fourth transmit terminal 492 to the fourth cellular frequencyband and output the filtered fourth transmit signal at the fourth commonterminal 493. The fourth diplexer 490 is further configured to filter afourth receive signal received at the fourth common terminal 493 to thethird cellular frequency band and output the filtered fourth receivesignal at the fourth receive terminal 491. The third cellular frequencyband may be UMTS Band 4 and the fourth cellular frequency band may beUMTS Band 12 (or UMTS Band 17).

The third transmit terminal 472 is coupled to the output of a thirdpower amplifier 442 and the fourth transmit terminal 492 is coupled tothe output of a fourth power amplifier 444. The third power amplifier442 may be a narrowband power amplifier that amplifies the thirdcellular frequency band (e.g., Band 4) and the fourth power amplifier444 may be a narrowband power amplifier that amplifies the fourthcellular frequency band (e.g., Band 12 or Band 17).

The third diplexer 470 may receive the third transmit signal from athird cellular frequency band transmit output of a transceiver systemand provide the third receive signal to a fourth cellular frequency bandreceive input of the transceiver system. Conversely, the fourth diplexer490 may receive the fourth transmit signal from a fourth cellularfrequency band transmit output of the transceiver system and provide thefourth receive signal to a third cellular frequency band receive inputof the transceiver system.

The multiplexing system 420 includes two antenna band select switchesused in conjunction to select between a first set of cellular frequencybands (e.g., Bands 2 and 5) and a second set of cellular frequency bands(e.g., Bands 4 and 12). For example, the first antenna band selectswitch (BSS) 421 may have a pole coupled to a first antenna 451, a firstthrow coupled to the first common terminal 463, and a second throwcoupled to the third common terminal 473. Similarly, a second antennaBSS 422 may have a pole coupled to a second antenna 452, a first throwcoupled to the second common terminal 483, and a second throw coupled tothe fourth common terminal 493.

In a first position of the two antenna band select switches (up in FIG.4), the wireless communication configuration 400 may be used to performcarrier aggregation of the first cellular frequency band and the secondcellular frequency band. In a second position of the two antenna bandselect switches (down in FIG. 4), the wireless communicationconfiguration 400 may be used to perform carrier aggregation of thethird cellular frequency band and the fourth cellular frequency band.

In some implementations, the multiplexing system 420 includes additionaldiplexer pairs for carrier aggregation of different pairs of cellularfrequency bands. Similarly, the antenna band select switches 421, 422may include additional throws for selecting the additional diplexerpairs.

In some implementations, the multiplexing system 420 includes a diplexerpair for UMTS Band 1 and Band 8. In some implementations, themultiplexing system 420 includes a diplexer pair for differentcombinations of cellular frequency bands supported by other diplexerpairs. For example, the multiplexing system 420 may have a firstdiplexer pair for UMTS Bands 2 and 5, a second diplexer pair for UMTSBands 4 and 12, a third diplexer pair for UMTS Bands 2 and 12, and afourth diplexer pair for UMTS Bands 4 and 5.

The wireless communication configuration 400 includes a diversityreceiving system 430 that includes two diversity antenna band selectswitches 435, 436. The diversity receiving system 430 includes a firstfilter 431 configured to filter a first diversity signal received at thefirst diversity antenna 453 to the first cellular frequency band, asecond filter 433 configured to filter a second diversity signalreceived at the second diversity antenna 454 to the second cellularfrequency band, a third filter 432 configured to filter a thirddiversity signal received at the first diversity antenna 453 to thethird cellular frequency band, and a fourth filter 434 configured tofilter a fourth diversity signal received at the second diversityantenna 454 to the fourth cellular frequency band.

The first diversity antenna BSS 435 has a pole coupled to the firstdiversity antenna 453, a first throw coupled to the first filter 431,and a second throw coupled to the third filter 432. The second diversityantenna BSS 436 has a pole coupled to the second diversity antenna 454,a first throw coupled to the second filter 433, and a second throwcoupled to the fourth filter 434.

In a first position of the two diversity antenna band select switches(up in FIG. 4), the diversity receiving system 430 may be used to assistcarrier aggregation of the first cellular frequency band and the secondcellular frequency band. In a second position of the two diversityantenna band select switches (down in FIG. 4), the diversity receivingsystem 430 may be used to assist carrier aggregation of the thirdcellular frequency band and the fourth cellular frequency band.

The first antenna 451 and second antenna 452 may both be widebandantennas that are configured to receive and transmit at least the firstcellular frequency band, second cellular frequency band, third cellularfrequency band, and fourth cellular frequency band. Contrastingly, thefirst diversity antenna 453 and second diversity antenna 454 may berelatively narrowband antennas that are configured to receive andtransmit, respectively, at least the first cellular frequency band andthird cellular frequency band and at least the second cellular frequencyband and the fourth cellular frequency band.

FIG. 5 shows that, in some embodiments, a wireless communicationconfiguration 500 may include power amplifier band select switches 543,544. The wireless communication configuration 500 includes themultiplexing system 420 described above with respect to FIG. 4 and twoantennas 451, 452. The wireless communication configuration 500 may alsoinclude a diversity receiving system (such as the diversity receivingsystem 430 of FIG. 4), a transceiver system (such as the transceiversystem 310 of FIG. 3), or any other component.

The wireless communication configuration 500 of FIG. 5 differs from thewireless communication configuration 400 of FIG. 4 in that theband-specific power amplifiers 441-444 of FIG. 4 are replaced with tworelatively wideband power amplifiers 541, 542 and two power amplifier(PA) band select switches 543, 544.

The first power amplifier 541 is configured to amplify at least thefirst cellular frequency band and the third cellular frequency band(e.g., UMTS Bands 2 and 4) and the second power amplifier 542 isconfigured to amplify at least the second cellular frequency band andfourth cellular frequency band (e.g., UMTS Bands 5 and 12). In someimplementations, both power amplifiers 541, 542 are wideband poweramplifiers that are configured to amplify at least the first cellularfrequency band, the second cellular frequency band, the third cellularfrequency band, and the fourth cellular frequency band.

The first PA BSS 543 has a pole coupled to the output of the first poweramplifier 541, a first throw coupled to the first transmit terminal 462of the first diplexer 460, and a second throw coupled to the thirdtransmit terminal 472 of the third diplexer 470. The second PA BSS 544has a pole coupled to the output of the second power amplifier 542, afirst throw coupled to the second transmit terminal 482 of the seconddiplexer 480, and a second throw coupled to the fourth transmit terminal492 of the fourth diplexer 490.

In a first position of the two PA band select switches (up in FIG. 5),the wireless communication configuration 500 may be used to performcarrier aggregation of the first cellular frequency band and the secondcellular frequency band. In a second position of the two PA band selectswitches (down in FIG. 5), the wireless communication configuration 500may be used to perform carrier aggregation of the third cellularfrequency band and the fourth cellular frequency band.

As noted above, in some implementations, the multiplexing system 420includes additional diplexer pairs for carrier aggregation of differentpairs of cellular frequency bands. Similarly, the PA band selectswitches 543, 544 may include additional throws for selecting theadditional diplexer pairs. Further, the power amplifiers 541, 542 may besufficiently wideband to support the additional cellular frequency bands(e.g., three, four, five, or more cellular frequency bands).

FIG. 6 shows that, in one embodiment, a wireless communicationconfiguration 600 may include a wideband diversity antenna 653. Thewireless communication configuration 600 includes the diversityreceiving system 430 described above with respect to FIG. 4, a widebanddiversity antenna 653, and two filters 661, 662. The wirelesscommunication configuration 600 may also include a multiplexing system(such as the multiplexing system 420 of FIG. 4), a transceiver system(such as the transceiver system 310 of FIG. 3), or any other component.

The wireless communication configuration 600 of FIG. 6 differs from thewireless communication configuration 400 of FIG. 4 in that the twodiversity antennas 453, 454 of FIG. 4 are replaced with one widebanddiversity antenna 653, a high-pass filter 661, and a low-pass filter662.

The wideband diversity antenna 653 may be configured to receive andtransmit at least the first cellular frequency band, second cellularfrequency band, third cellular frequency band, and fourth cellularfrequency band. The high-pass filter 661 may be configured to filter thesignal received from the wideband diversity antenna 653 to pass thefirst cellular frequency band and third cellular frequency band, butreject the second cellular frequency band and fourth cellular frequencyband. Conversely, the low-pass filter 662 may be configured to filterthe signal received from the wideband diversity antenna 653 to pass thesecond cellular frequency band and the fourth cellular frequency band,but reject the first cellular frequency band and fourth cellularfrequency band.

FIG. 7 shows that in some embodiments, some or all of wirelesscommunication configurations (e.g., those shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 4, 5, and6) can be implemented, wholly or partially, in a module. Such a modulecan be, for example, a front-end module (FEM). In the example of FIG. 7,a module 700 can include a packaging substrate 702, and a number ofcomponents can be mounted on such a packaging substrate 702. Forexample, an FE-PMIC (front-end power management integrated circuit)component 704, a power amplifier assembly 706, a match component 708,and a multiplexer assembly 710 can be mounted and/or implemented onand/or within the packaging substrate 702. The multiplexing assembly 710may include one or more diplexers 707 that pass, in two directions, twodifferent cellular frequency bands. Other components such as a number ofSMT (surface-mount technology) devices 714 and an antenna switch module(ASM) 712 can also be mounted on the packaging substrate 702. Althoughall of the various components are depicted as being laid out on thepackaging substrate 702, it will be understood that some component(s)can be implemented over other component(s).

In some implementations, a device and/or a circuit having one or morefeatures described herein can be included in an RF electronic devicesuch as a wireless device. Such a device and/or a circuit can beimplemented directly in the wireless device, in a modular form asdescribed herein, or in some combination thereof. In some embodiments,such a wireless device can include, for example, a cellular phone, asmart-phone, a hand-held wireless device with or without phonefunctionality, a wireless tablet, etc.

FIG. 8 depicts an example wireless device 800 having one or moreadvantageous features described herein. In the context of a modulehaving one or more features as described herein, such a module can begenerally depicted by a dashed box 700, and can be implemented as, forexample, a front-end module (FEM).

Referring to FIG. 8, power amplifiers (PAs) 820 can receive theirrespective RF signals from a transceiver 810 that can be configured andoperated in known manners to generate RF signals to be amplified andtransmitted, and to process received signals. The transceiver 810 isshown to interact with a baseband sub-system 808 that is configured toprovide conversion between data and/or voice signals suitable for a userand RF signals suitable for the transceiver 810. The transceiver 810 canalso be in communication with a power management component 806 that isconfigured to manage power for the operation of the wireless device 800.Such power management can also control operations of the basebandsub-system 808 and the module 700.

The baseband sub-system 808 is shown to be connected to a user interface802 to facilitate various input and output of voice and/or data providedto and received from the user. The baseband sub-system 808 can also beconnected to a memory 804 that is configured to store data and/orinstructions to facilitate the operation of the wireless device, and/orto provide storage of information for the user.

In the example wireless device 800, outputs of the PAs 820 are shown tobe matched (via respective match circuits 822) and routed to theirrespective diplexers 824. Such amplified and filtered signals can berouted to an antenna 816 (or multiple antennas) through an antennaswitch 814 for transmission. In some embodiments, the diplexers 824 canallow transmit and receive operations to be performed simultaneouslyusing a common antenna (e.g., 816). In FIG. 8, received signals areshown to be routed to “Rx” paths (not shown) that can include, forexample, a low-noise amplifier (LNA).

A number of other wireless device configurations can utilize one or morefeatures described herein. For example, a wireless device does not needto be a multi-band device. In another example, a wireless device caninclude additional antennas such as diversity antenna, and additionalconnectivity features such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS.

As described herein, one or more features of the present disclosure canprovide a number of advantages when implemented in systems such as thoseinvolving the wireless device of FIG. 8. For example, the use ofdiplexers rather than duplexers may lower the RF path losses between thepower amplifier and antenna, reducing cost, size, and heat generationand increasing battery life.

One or more features of the present disclosure can be implemented withvarious cellular frequency bands as described herein. Examples of suchbands are listed in Table 1. It will be understood that at least some ofthe bands can be divided into sub-bands. It will also be understood thatone or more features of the present disclosure can be implemented withfrequency ranges that do not have designations such as the examples ofTable 1.

TABLE 1 Tx Frequency Rx Frequency Band Mode Range (MHz) Range (MHz) B1FDD 1,920-1,980 2,110-2,170 B2 FDD 1,850-1,910 1,930-1,990 B3 FDD1,710-1,785 1,805-1,880 B4 FDD 1,710-1,755 2,110-2,155 B5 FDD 824-849869-894 B6 FDD 830-840 875-885 B7 FDD 2,500-2,570 2,620-2,690 B8 FDD880-915 925-960 B9 FDD 1,749.9-1,784.9 1,844.9-1,879.9 B10 FDD1,710-1,770 2,110-2,170 B11 FDD 1,427.9-1,447.9 1,475.9-1,495.9 B12 FDD699-716 729-746 B13 FDD 777-787 746-756 B14 FDD 788-798 758-768 B15 FDD1,900-1,920 2,600-2,620 B16 FDD 2,010-2,025 2,585-2,600 B17 FDD 704-716734-746 B18 FDD 815-830 860-875 B19 FDD 830-845 875-890 B20 FDD 832-862791-821 B21 FDD 1,447.9-1,462.9 1,495.9-1,510.9 B22 FDD 3,410-3,4903,510-3,590 B23 FDD 2,000-2,020 2,180-2,200 B24 FDD 1,626.5-1,660.51,525-1,559 B25 FDD 1,850-1,915 1,930-1,995 B26 FDD 814-849 859-894 B27FDD 807-824 852-869 B28 FDD 703-748 758-803 B29 FDD N/A 716-728 B30 FDD2,305-2,315 2,350-2,360 B31 FDD 452.5-457.5 462.5-467.5 B33 TDD1,900-1,920 1,900-1,920 B34 TDD 2,010-2,025 2,010-2,025 B35 TDD1,850-1,910 1,850-1,910 B36 TDD 1,930-1,990 1,930-1,990 B37 TDD1,910-1,930 1,910-1,930 B38 TDD 2,570-2,620 2,570-2,620 B39 TDD1,880-1,920 1,880-1,920 B40 TDD 2,300-2,400 2,300-2,400 B41 TDD2,496-2,690 2,496-2,690 B42 TDD 3,400-3,600 3,400-3,600 B43 TDD3,600-3,800 3,600-3,800 B44 TDD 703-803 703-803

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout thedescription and the claims, the words “comprise,” “comprising,” and thelike are to be construed in an inclusive sense, as opposed to anexclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of“including, but not limited to.” The word “coupled”, as generally usedherein, refers to two or more elements that may be either directlyconnected, or connected by way of one or more intermediate elements.Additionally, the words “herein,” “above,” “below,” and words of similarimport, when used in this application, shall refer to this applicationas a whole and not to any particular portions of this application. Wherethe context permits, words in the above Description using the singularor plural number may also include the plural or singular numberrespectively. The word “or” in reference to a list of two or more items,that word covers all of the following interpretations of the word: anyof the items in the list, all of the items in the list, and anycombination of the items in the list.

The above detailed description of embodiments of the invention is notintended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise formdisclosed above. While specific embodiments of, and examples for, theinvention are described above for illustrative purposes, variousequivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the invention,as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. For example, whileprocesses or blocks are presented in a given order, alternativeembodiments may perform routines having steps, or employ systems havingblocks, in a different order, and some processes or blocks may bedeleted, moved, added, subdivided, combined, and/or modified. Each ofthese processes or blocks may be implemented in a variety of differentways. Also, while processes or blocks are at times shown as beingperformed in series, these processes or blocks may instead be performedin parallel, or may be performed at different times.

The teachings of the invention provided herein can be applied to othersystems, not necessarily the system described above. The elements andacts of the various embodiments described above can be combined toprovide further embodiments.

While some embodiments of the inventions have been described, theseembodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are notintended to limit the scope of the disclosure. Indeed, the novel methodsand systems described herein may be embodied in a variety of otherforms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in theform of the methods and systems described herein may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of the disclosure. The accompanying claims andtheir equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications aswould fall within the scope and spirit of the disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A multiplexing system comprising: a firstdiplexer configured to filter: a first transmit signal to a firstfrequency band for a first antenna, and a first receive signal to asecond frequency band for the first antenna; and a second diplexerconfigured to filter: a second transmit signal to the second frequencyband for a second antenna, and a second receive signal to the firstfrequency band for the second antenna, the second diplexer furtherconfigured to filter: the second receive signal to first frequency bandat the same time as the first diplexer filters the first transmit signalto the first frequency band, and the second transmit signal to thesecond frequency band at the same time as the first diplexer filters thefirst receive signal to the second frequency band.
 2. The multiplexingsystem of claim 1 further comprising a first power amplifier having afirst output coupled to the first diplexer, the first power amplifierconfigured to amplify an unamplified first transmit signal to generatethe first transmit signal.
 3. The multiplexing system of claim 2 whereinthe first power amplifier is a narrowband power amplifier configured toamplify the first frequency band of the unamplified first transmitsignal.
 4. The multiplexing system of claim 2 further comprising asecond power amplifier having a second output coupled to the seconddiplexer, the second power amplifier configured to amplify anunamplified second transmit signal to generate the second transmitsignal.
 5. The multiplexing system of claim 4 wherein the second poweramplifier is a narrowband power amplifier configured to amplify thesecond frequency band of the unamplified second transmit signal.
 6. Themultiplexing system of claim 1 further comprising the first antenna andthe second antenna.
 7. The multiplexing system of claim 6 furthercomprising a diversity receiver system and one or more diversityantennas coupled to the diversity receiver system.
 8. The multiplexingsystem of claim 7 wherein the diversity receiver system includes a firstfilter configured to filter a first diversity signal received at the oneor more diversity antennas to the first frequency band.
 9. Themultiplexing system of claim 8 wherein the diversity receiver systemincludes a second filter configured to filter a second diversity signalreceived at the one or more diversity antennas to the second frequencyband.
 10. The multiplexing system of claim 1 further comprising a firstantenna band select switch (BSS) having a first antenna BSS pole, afirst antenna BSS throw, and a second antenna BSS throw.
 11. Themultiplexing system of claim 10 further comprising a third diplexerconfigured to filter a third transmit signal to a third frequency band,the third diplexer further configured to filter a third receive signalto a fourth frequency band.
 12. The multiplexing system of claim 11further comprising a first power amplifier band select switch having afirst power amplifier band select switch pole, a first power amplifierband select switch throw, and a second power amplifier band selectswitch throw.
 13. The multiplexing system of claim 1 wherein the firstdiplexer is a passive device.
 14. The multiplexing system of claim 1wherein the first diplexer includes a first bandpass filter and a secondbandpass filter.
 15. The multiplexing system of claim 1 wherein thefirst frequency band and the second frequency band includes UniversalMobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) Bands 2 and
 5. 16. Themultiplexing system of claim 1 wherein the first frequency band and thesecond frequency band includes Universal Mobile TelecommunicationsSystem (UMTS) Bands 4 and
 12. 17. A radio-frequency (RF) modulecomprising: a packaging substrate configured to receive a plurality ofcomponents; and a multiplexing system implemented on the packagingsubstrate, the multiplexing system including a first diplexer configuredto filter a first transmit signal to a first frequency band for a firstantenna and a first receive signal to a second frequency band for thefirst antenna, the multiplexing system further including a seconddiplexer configured to filter a second transmit signal to the secondfrequency band for a second antenna and a second receive signal to thefirst frequency band for the second antenna, the second diplexer furtherconfigured to filter: the second receive signal to first frequency bandat the same time as the first diplexer filters the first transmit signalto the first frequency band, and the second transmit signal to thesecond frequency band at the same time as the first diplexer filters thefirst receive signal to the second frequency band.
 18. The RF module ofclaim 17 wherein the RF module is a front-end module (FEM).
 19. The RFmodule of claim 17 wherein the multiplexing system further includes afirst antenna band select switch having a first antenna band selectswitch pole, a first antenna band select switch throw, and a secondantenna band select switch throw.
 20. A wireless device comprising: atransceiver configured to generate a radio-frequency (RF) signal; afront-end module (FEM) in communication with the transceiver, the FEMincluding a packaging substrate configured to receive a plurality ofcomponents, the FEM further including a multiplexing system implementedon the packaging substrate, the multiplexing system including a firstdiplexer configured to filter a first transmit signal to a firstfrequency band for a first antenna and a first receive signal to asecond frequency band for the first antenna, the multiplexing systemfurther including a second diplexer configured to filter a secondtransmit signal to the second frequency band for a second antenna and asecond receive signal to the first frequency band for the secondantenna, the second diplexer further configured to filter: the secondreceive signal to first frequency band at the same time as the firstdiplexer filters the first transmit signal to the first frequency band,and the second transmit signal to the second frequency band at the sametime as the first diplexer filters the first receive signal to thesecond frequency band; and the first antenna and the second antenna incommunication with the FEM, the first antenna and the second antennaconfigured to transmit an amplified version of the RF signal receivedfrom the multiplexing system.